Towed by the Dutch tug Multratug 22 off the locks at Vlissingen 25 August 2017
Before the locks
Entering the locks
In the locks
after leaving locks towards the Dokhaven
Entering the Dokhaven
Mooring along the Houtkade
Dutch pusher tug Bobo assisting
Laid down at the shipyard of the Peterson Builders Incorporation, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, USA on 19 February 1952, launched on 17 January 1953 and commissioned on 22 July 1953 as Hr. Ms. Onverschrokken (M886). She and her sister ships were built in the USA and handed over to the Netherlands according to the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. Since 1 January 1969 classified as headquarters-support ship for minesweepers squadrons.
In 1972 was she rebuilt as a torpedo work ship but kept her original name until she was renamed Mercuur on 11 May 1973. All torpedo works ships serving in the Royal Netherlands Navy since the 1880’s are named Mercuur. She assisted at torpedo launching tests executed by submarines by afterwards picking up the torpedo and taken at board preparing for the next test launching. Further more served she as target during torpedo tests. In 1987 replaced by the Mercuur (A900) built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. Temporarily handed over to the Stichting Nautisch Kwartier Amsterdam, however given back to the Royal Netherlands Navy after some time. Then handed over to the Stichting Behoud Maritieme Monumenten and became a museum ship since 1992 at Scheveningen, Netherlands until December 2015 when she was towed back to Den Helder, Netherlands after she was given back to the Royal Netherlands Navy on 15 December. Her final fate was to be broken up there. The Stichting Maritiem Erfgoed Vlissingen succeeded in 2016 to persuade the Royal Netherlands Navy to save her for the time necessary to develop a business-plan as museum ship. On Saturday 16 December 2016 arrived she partly stripped in Vlissingen-Oost. There is the asbestos removed and started with the first maintenance steps. On 17th August 2017 docked at Vlissingen-Oost, Netherlands to examine and paint the hull. She was twoed by the Dutch salvage and towing company Multraship at Terneuzen on 25th August to Vlissingen. There she is temporarily be berthed in the Dokhaven waiting for her final berth in the 17th Century dry dock Dok van Perry. On 1 September 2017 she will be officially handed over by the Royal Netherlands Navy to the foundation Stichting Maritiem Erfgoed Vlissingen which maintain her as a museum ship. On board will the story be told of the minesweeper Onverschrokken and the mine service in Vlissingen and of the torpedo work ship Mercuur, altogether mixed with the maritime history of Vlissingen and the relation with the Royal Netherlands Navy. The first Dutch submarine Luctor et Emergo later the Hr. Ms. O 1 was built in Vlissingen in a shed alongside the same Dokhaven where the Mercuur now lies.
Displacement 790 tons and as dimensions 55,00 x 10,70 x 3,70 metres. Original diesel motors supplying 1.600 hp allowing via 2 screws a speed of 15,5 knots. Her crew numbered 67 men. The armament consisted of 1-4cm machinegun.
